Using the UTAUT model to analyze students' ICT adoption

This paper seeks to provide further understanding of issues surrounding acceptance of information and communication technology (ICT) by students of tertiary institutions. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model Venkatesh et al (2003) was employed by the researchers to determine the strength of predictors for students’ intention to accept and use ICT for learning and research. Questionnaires were administered to 400 students in the Social Studies and Business Administration Faculties of Methodist University College, Ghana, with 345 returned, a 86% return rate. Analysis of Moments Structures (AMOS) 20 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 16 were used to analyze the data collected. The measurement and structure model was appraised using Structural Equation Modeling. Effort Expectancy (EE) (0.4, p <.05) significantly predicted Behavioural Intention(BI) to use ICT, while Social influence (SI) and Performance Expectancy (PE) were statistically insignificant, as was Behavioural Intention (BI) on Use Behaviour (UB). However, Facilitating Conditions (FC) (β=.26, p <.01) significantly influenced UB. We recommend that future studies should include students from other faculties and multiple universities for more reliable results and conclusions